4th of July!

Happy 4th of July everybody!
Ben
-- Posted From My iPod

No more heroes...

It is Interesting to me how much they the media is talking about, and some even honoring the life of Michael Jackson after his death last week. I have also
heard others make jokes about him and his death. I have 2 thoughts.

-Michael Jackson was a broken person that Christ died for. It is sad that he was abused. It is sad that he may have abused others. He was one of those people who could literally have anything he wanted materialistically, and it obviously wasn't enough. It didn't satisfy. God loved Michael Jackson before the public ever did, and he loved Michael Jackson even when the public did not.

-Our culture no longer has heroes. We have celebrities. People aren't held up because of character or courage, but noteriety. I think this is because we are so skeptical. Michael Jackson shouldn't be held up as a hero.

So as you hear about Michael Jackson, think of him as God sees him. He is a person who needs to know Christ!

Ben
-- Posted From My iPod

Like my wife...

Isn't it amazing how much we influence each other. One of the things I've noticed lately is how much Megan and I are becoming like each other. We are a little less than a month away from our 3 year anniversary, and it has flown by. Megan likes stuff like laptops and iPods now, and I'm riding in the car with her without my radio going. I'm starting to say stuff that is more and more ridiculous in attempts to be funny. When I do I realize, "I am becoming like my wife!"

I laugh and think..."That's not a bad thing."

But if it goes too far, please say something!

Ben
-- Posted From My iPod

Stacks and Stacks of books!

Books- I love to read. Books can be very powerful influencers of our thinking which can be good or bad.

Tonight Megan and I went to Books.A.Million to hang out and look around. I overheard a mother talk to her daughter about a book she was reading. It's a popular book right now that has some very unbiblical teaching about God. It made me think two things. First, it made me feel a combination of sad and irritated, which lead to 2. a desire to write and publish a book one day.

And if God allows me the opportunity, I'll publish it on a Kindle!

Ben
-- Posted From My iPod

Dinner with Moose and Heather

China Wok!




















Bonus Photo:
Megan rockin' out!


Ben
-- Posted From My iPod

A complete misunderstanding...

Today I went with my family and friends and saw two different shows. I had a blast just hanging out with everybody, but was really sad to see an incredible trend at both of the shows we went to.
In America, it is ok, and even celebrated in some places, to be "spiritual" and talk about God. At these shows they sang about Jesus right after telling off color jokes. They talked about wanting to be right with God by being good, or being baptized. Often the audience was told goodbye with a "God Bless You.". These shows were obviously geared to an older audience and it made me think something. What you believe about the Bible and its' role in your life is foundational. Although an older generation may have been more moral, the chasm between what God's Word says (specifically the gospel) an what is widely believed about God is extremely large. One of the possible reasons more recent generations have rejected God is that the god that this generation presented to their posterity is not the God of the Bible. Their was and is a fundamental ignorance and/or misunderstanding about what the gospel really is.
What is the gospel? Here it is..
1. No one is moral. We've all broken God's laws.
2. Our sin seperates us from God and must be payed for.
3. God sent Jesus to live a perfect life, and die on the cross. God poured out his wrath for sin on Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross he was paying for our sins.
4. Jesus didn't stay dead. He is God. He came back to life on the third day.
5. If we confess our sin, repent and believe in Jesus and what he did on the cross then God will forgive our sin and give us a home in heaven when we die.

So have you trusted in Christ? Do you know that your sin is forgiven? I hope you do!


Ben
-- Posted From My iPod

All over the world...

So this morning I got to see a few really cool things that God has done and is doing all over the world.
I got to see and hear:
- a man who was a terrorist leader of Hammas who came to know Christ and now proclaims the gospel over the world
- 9 new missionary couples approved to go to places like Honduras, India and Ecuador.
- 6 different missionary families who got 30 or 50 year awards for a lifetime of serving the Lord.

I hope that God allows me to have a lifetime of faithful service to Him. I hope Meg and I can influence on young couples and teens to be involved on World-wide missions in a way that would really honor Him...

God works outside of my church, my city, and my country...

"Pray he therefore the Lord of the Harvest, that he would send laborors into his harvest."


Ben
-- Posted From My iPod